Vehicle frame



April 1 1' A. a. WERDEHOF'F "2,280,016

' EHICLE RAME I INVENTOR v ALBERT B. WERDEHOFF i I A TTORNEJ5. I

A. B. WERDEHOFF VEHICLE F AME April 14, 1942.

Filed Jan. 15, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V15 NTOR WW 5 DmA R? M? 2 mm further modification.

Patented Apr. 14, 1942 UNITED. STATES PATENT "OFFICE Albert B. Werdehoff, Detroit, Mich, assignor to Chrysler Corporation, Highland Park, Mich., a i corporation of Delaware l Application January 15, 1940-, Serial Ni. 313,908 14 Claims. cl. 280- 106) This invention relates to motor vehicles and refers moreparticularly to improvements in frame Structures for such vehicles.

Itis an object of my invention to provide a frame" of improved simplicity and increased strength especially in resisting torsionalstresses in theframe. r

Another 'objectais to provide a frame structure having componentmembers thereof structurally assembled in an improved manneriree from ob.- jectionabie. eccentric loading andfarranged to provide improved localized strength where the stressesare most severe. r

Further objects and advantages of my invention will be more apparentfrom the following illustrative embodiment thereof, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which:

. Fig. 1 is a plan View of a frame showing my invention. in the formof an X-bracing therefor.

Fig. 3 is a'section through a portionof one of the X-brace arms.

Fig. .4 is a view similar to Fig. 2 illustrating the component arm portions separated prior to their structural assembly; q

Fig. 5 is a perspectiveview of the central region of an X-frame of modified construction.

Fig. G is a -view'similar to Fig. .5 illustrating a Referring to the drawings, I have illustrated the principles of myinvention in conjunction with an X-bracing fora vehicle. frame in which and upper and lower horizontal flanges i9; 20 which extend in the same direction from'web It. At itsinner end each mainarm has its web l8 inwardly recessed at 2| in the direction of; its

. rection as flanges l9,2fl..

Adjacent the central region of the X-brace. each main arm has its flanges 19, 20 similarly cut away at 24. or otherwiseformed such that the inner end portion of each main arm has narrower flanges than at the outer end portion,,preferably about one-half the Width of the flanges adjacent the outer end.

Associated with the cut-away portionnof each main arm is an auxiliary arm 25 recessed at 26 and flangd at 21, 28 and 29. to abut the respecthe edges of flanges I9, 20 at cut-away portion 24 and'flange 24' at recess 2|. Each auxiliary arm 25 'is thus formed like the inner end portion of a main arm, the corresponding flanges extendme toward each other so that when these flanges abut each main arm will be formed with a hollow boxed-in terminal portion. including the cantithe longitudinally extending side rails H! are transversely connected by cross-braces ll, l2. Frames of this general character are usually providedowith an X-brace intermediate the length of theframe for: stiffening theframe torsionallyv and otherwise. Because'of therequirement for passage of the usual propellcrshaft throughthe central region of the X-brace and because of the concentration of forces at the center of the X'- brace, this central region has received-much atthe problems; the prior structures, in contrast with my invention, either fail to provide the deofthe arms 13, I4. and l5, 16 being obliquely aligned when; assembledland. suitably rigidly securedas at I! to the opposite side rails l0.

Each main channel arm has avertical web i8 tention. in the past. However, in an effort to meet main arms.

lever portions 22,123. By recessing flanges I9, 20 for. half their width and providing flanges 21, 28 of the same narrow width, each auxiliary arm 25, when assembled with a main armas in Fig. 2,

willhave its Web flush with the edegs of flanges I9, 20 andthe relatively narrow flanges adjacent the. edges 24 willtogether equal the width of. flanges l9, 20 at the outer end portionsof the.

If. desired, ,the vertical dimension of main and auxiliary arms may be greater adjacent the vertical axis 3!! of the X-brace. In assemblingthe structure, the pre-fashioned main and auxiliary arms are matched in pairs and secured together preferably by welding" along their abutting flanges.

This will result in the provision of four structural sub-assembly units each comprising a main arm having a boxed-inor hollow terminal inner end portionincluding the cantileverportions 2 2, 23. Preferably prior to the said weldingoperation,

the paired main and auxiliaryarms are formed -V-shaped attheir inner cantilever ends by the oppositely directed bevels 3|, 32 such that when thestructure is fully assembled as in Fig. 2, the bevels of one. sub-assembly will engage those of adjacent sub-assemblies and the critical region at and adjacent to. axis 30 will be formed fully boxed-m or hollow. a i v After welding the auxiliary arms 25 to the served for all of the boxed-in or hollow arms.

The recesses 26 form two intersecting'obliquely elongated openings for accommodating the usual propeller shaft. I

Referring to the Fig. 5 embodiment of my invention, there is provided a long main arm lfl which extends obliquely across the X-brace. This arm has the auxiliary arms 25 associated therewith as before although now theauxiliary arm likewise extends as a unit across the center of the X-brace and the flanged openings 2 1 and 25*- are now formed complete in the respective arms H and l5 rather than in half portions as in Fig. 4.

In the Fig. 5 structure I employ three main arms comprising the long arm l3 and the short arms I5 and H5 which, along with their associated auxiliary arms 25* are substantially the same as the corresponding pairs of arms 16, 25 and I5, 25 in Fig. 4. However, in Fig. 5 the inner cantilever boxed ends .of these pairs of arms are not bevelled but terminate for contact flush with the webs of arms I3 25 to which they are welded. In this arrangement the center of the X-brace is,. after the welding assembly, much like Fig. 2 as to its stress-taking characteristics.

The Fig. 6 embodiment differs from the Fig. 5 embodiment in that the main member I3 is now formed in two pieces l3 and [4 formed with abutting inner end portions welded together at the joint axis 30. The auxiliary members 25 are likewise formed in two parts and welded together to complete the central boxed-in structure for the inner ends of the main arms l3 and l4.

I claim:

1. An X-brace for a motor vehicle frame comprising four arm members, each having a pair of spaced hollow termini, said termini being brought together in abutting relation at the center of the X-brace.

2.An X-brace for a motor vehicle frame comprising component arm members each provided with a pair of V-shaped hollow termini, said termini being brought together in nested relation centrally of the X-brace with pairs of the arm members in longitudinal alignment, the termini of one pair of the arm members respectively abutting and being secured to the termini of the other pair of members.

3. An X-brace for a motor vehicle frame comprising component main channeled arms each having upper and lower flanges recessed, and an auxiliary channeled arm secured to each of the main arms, each of the auxiliary arms having upper and lower flanges fitting the recesses of the upper and lower flanges of an associated main arm and secured thereto in abutting relation, the webs of the associated main and auxiliary arms being spaced from each other, end portions of the associated main and auxiliary arms being terminally bevelled V-shaped, the V- shaped termini being clustered about the central vertical axis of the X-brace.

4. An X-brace for a motor vehicle frame comprising a channel arm extending continuously 'iliary arm secured to each of said channel arms,

said auxiliary arms being aligned one with the other and secured together with their inner ends abutting each other at said axis, said auxiliary arms cooperating with said channel arms to provide a hollow boxed-in structure at said axis, and a pair of hollow arm structures aligned with each other and extending transversely to said boxedin structure, each of said hollow arm structures having a hollow inner terminus secured to a side of said boxed-in structure.

6. In a motor vehicle frame including laterally spaced side rails, an X-shaped brace for said frame comprising aligned arms channel-shaped in cross section extending obliquely between and having their non-adjacent ends respectively secured to said rails, means closing each of the channeled arms in the region of the center of the X-shaped brace to form a closed box in cross section, the webs and channel forming flanges of said channeled arms being respectively disposed in longitudinal alignment throughout the channel cross section of said arms.

7. In a motor vehicle frame including laterally spaced side rails, an X-shaped brace for said frame comprising aligned arms extending obliquely between said rails, each of said arms having a pair of spaced flanges and a connecting web, structural channeled means having spaced flanges abutting and secured to the flanges respectively of each of said arms to box-in the latter in the region of the center of said X-shaped brace, the web of each of said arms and the flanges thereof being respectively disposed in a common plane throughout the length thereof.

8. In a motor vehicle frame including laterally spaced side rails, an X-shaped brace for said frame comprising a plurality of main component arms radiating outwardly from the central vertical axis of the X-brace, at least two main component arms being aligned one with the other and having the outer ends thereof secured to a respective rail and having the inner ends thereof abutting another of said arms adjacent the vertical axis of said X-shaped brace, the said aligned arms and said other arm each including spaced flanges and a connecting web therebetween, the said webs of said aligned arms being aligned longitudinally one with the other at the vertical axis of said X-shaped brace, and an auxiliary channeled arm associated with each of said main arms and cooperating therewith to form a closed box in cross section in the region adjacent the vertical axis of said brace, each of said auxiliary arms having spaced flanges secured to res ective flanges of the associated main arm.

9. In a motor vehicle frame including laterally spaced side rails, an X-shaped brace for said frame comprising a plurality of pairs of aligned arms channel-shaped in cross section extending obliquely between said rails, each pair of aligned arms opening in the same direction adjacent the center .of the X-shaped brace, and a channeled auxiliary arm secured to and cooperating with each of said main arms to form a closed box in cross section at thecenter of said X-shaped brace, each associated main and auxiliary arm being recessed to provide spaced hollow canti lever terminal portions, said portions being brought together centrally of said X-shaped brace with the arms of each pair aligned and abutting each other.

10. In a motor vehicle frame including laterally spaced side rails, an X-shaped brace for said said portions being terminally beveled V-shaped,

the V-shaped termini being clustered about the central vertical axis of the X-shaped brace. 11. In a motor vehicle frame including laterally spaced side rails, an X-shaped brace for said frame comprising a plurality of pairs ofaligned arms channel-shaped in cross section extending obliquely between said rails, each pair of aligned arms opening in thesame direction, and a channeled auxiliary arm secured to and cooperating with each of said main arms to form a closed box in cross section at the center of said X- shaped brace, each associated main and auxiliary arm being recessed to provide spaced hollow,

cantilever terminal portions, said portions being brought together centrally of said X-shaped brace, the terminal portions of the associated main and auxiliary arms constituting one of said pairs abutting each other and extending between the terminal portions of the associated main and auxiliary arms constituting the other of said pairs, said last mentioned terminal portions abut ting a respective side face of the terminal extending therebetween. v

12. In a motor vehicle frame including laterally spaced side rails, an X-shaped brace for said frame comprising a channeled arm extending obliquely between said rails and a pair of aligned channeled arms extending obliquely between said rails, the flanges of said pair of arms being directed to the same side of the web in the region of the center of said X-brace, and a channeled auxiliary arm secured to and cooperating with each of said arms to form a closed box in cross section at thecenter of said X-brace, the first mentioned arm and the auxiliary arm associated therewith being recessed to form spaced upper and lower beam portions at the centre of said X-shaped member, and each arm of said pair and the auxiliary arm associated therewith being recessed to form spaced upper and lower hollow terminal portions, the upper and lower terminal portions being respectively aligned, the said aligned terminal portions abutting and being secured to a respective beam porthe latter at said axis, the channel arm having the flanges thereof directed to the same side of the web throughout the length thereof, and a pair of hollow arm structures aligned with each other and extending transversely of said channel arm, each of said hollow arms having a hollow inner terminus secured to the box-in portions I of said channel and auxiliary arms, each of said hollow arm structures including a main channel member, the webs of said channel members being aligned with each other throughout the length of said structures.

14. An X-shaped brace member comprising diagonal arms arranged in radiating relation and channel-shaped in cross section adjacent the region of intersection, at least one pair of those arms which are arranged in longitudinal alignment having terminal inner end portions structurally connected adjacent the vertical axis of the X brace and having their channels opening in the same direction with the webs and the corresponding channel forming flanges thereof respectively aligned longitudinally whereby to provide'substantially straight line force transmitting portions through said region, and structural means cooperating with the channel-shaped arms to form a box formation at said region.

ALBERT B. WERDEHOFF. 

